Where to Stay in Karon Beach

Karon is one of the most popular beach towns to stay in Phuket, especially for families and those looking for a quiet beach holiday close to the action. Karon has a beautiful beach, a wide range of tourist amenities, and an excellent location to explore the island.

In this article, I will help you to look at the best places to stay in Karon, which include the best areas and top hotels and resorts in Karon. If you are looking for a place to stay in Karon, keep reading!

I traveled all around the island on a rented scooter, staying in several towns along the way such as Karon, Phuket Old Town, and Patong. I will share details of my stay at the end of this article.

I was a solo female traveler looking for somewhere safe to stay on a budget and don’t mind paying a little bit more for a private room. Having traveled extensively around Thailand and other parts of Southeast Asia, I can share some great tips on accommodations for every budget and preference.

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Where is Karon?

Karon is a famous beach town located on the south western coast of Phuket. It is 8 km south of Patong, 16 km from Phuket Old Town, and 48 km from Phuket International Airport.

Karon is located between Patong and Kata. It is also close to Freedom Beach, Nui Beach, and Nai Harn Beach. The main area of Patong is the 3km long beach and the Beach Road (Road 4030), and Patak Road running parallel with the beach.

Why should you stay in Karon?

1. Beautiful beaches

Most people come to Phuket for beaches, and staying in Karon offers easy access to a range of beautiful beaches. The town is home to a 3km long beach with white sand and lots of water activities. It is also close to many other beaches such as Patong, Freedom Beach, Kata, Kata Noi, and Nai Harn Beach.

2. Quieter Atmosphere and more family-friendly than Patong

Karon offers a quieter atmosphere than Patong. It has a relaxed nightlife with plenty of restaurants, bars, and shops, but it’s not as wild as Patong. If you want a relaxing beach holiday, but still close to the action. Karon is the great choice. It’s the neighboring beach town to Patong, just 5–10 km away.

Karon has a more family-friendly atmosphere than in Patong, so if you are looking for somewhere to stay with kids, Karon is a great base.

3. Central location for exploring Phuket

Karon is located in a relatively central location on the west coast, making it a great base to explore the southern part of the island and the beaches on the west coast. Most major points of interest are located in South Phuket.

From Karon, you can easily get to Patong- the nightlife hub of Phuket, Old Town – the cultural hub of Phuket, and lots of attractions and viewpoints such as the Big Buddha, Wat Chalong, Black Rock Viewpoint, Karon Viewpoint, and Cape Promthep Viewpoint.

4. Easy access to all tourist amenities

Karon has all tourist amenities such as restaurants, bars, shops, travel agencies, motorbike rentals, massage parlors, 7-Eleven, and ATMs. You can easily walk to these tourist facilities on foot wherever you choose to stay in Karon.

Downside of Staying in Karon

Like many popular beach towns, Karon is quite tourist‑oriented. It can be very crowded during peak months from November to May. If you travel during these months, make sure to book your accommodations well in advance to secure the best spots.

Karon is quieter and more family-friendly, which can also be the downside for those looking for vibrant nightlife, clubs, or bars. If you are looking for wild nightlife, it is better to stay in Patong.

While there are restaurants, Karon does not have many street food stalls and night markets like in some other areas like Phuket Town, Patong, Kata, or Surin. It is still close to Kata and Patong, so you can still have easy access to these facilities within a few minutes on Grab Taxi/ scooter.

Best areas to stay in Karon

Karon is the area running along the 3km long Karon Beach. There are two main roads in Karon: the Beach Road (Road 4030) in the beach front and the Patak Road which is more inland. These two roads are around 400m apart and are connected to each other by many other smaller roads.

If you want choose stay in the beach front area, you will need to pay a little bit more for its prime location. Most big resorts and hotels are located on the Karon Beach Road. If you are on a budget, you can choose many hotels a bit further inland.

The area is relatively small, so no matter where you choose to stay, you can easily get to the beach and all tourist amenities within a short walk or tuk tuk/ Grab ride.

My top hotel picks in Karon Beach:

Best Places to Stay in Karon

1. Karon Beach Road

If you want to stay close to the beach, there are many resorts and hotels along the Beach Road (4030) where you can book a hotel. There are no direct resorts on the beach except Centara Grand Resort at the north end and Beyond Karon at the southern end of Karon Beach.

Most resorts are located on one side of the beach road, so to access the beach, you’ll need to cross the road, which takes a minute or two. This is actually a good thing, as the beach remains open, easily accessible to the public and isn’t blocked by any private property.

As Karon is a long beach (around 3km long), I will divide it into two areas: the northern and southern part. The northern area is from Bazar Karon to Centara Grand Resort and the southern area is from Bazar Karon to Beyond Karon Resort.

The Northern area is home to the busiest area of Karon, which is the area around Karon Circle and Karon Temple. This area is also home to Karon Park, and several street food stalls where you can grab some quick snacks at the beach.

The Northern area is also closer to other beaches in north Karon like Freedom Beach, Tri Trang Beach, and Patong Beach. It is a bit closer to get to Patong for nightlife than in the southern end area.

The southern part of Karon Beach Road is home to the long Khlong Bang La Park. This park is home to a canal, lots of shaded areas, and a large golden statue. This area is also close to the Dino Park Mini Golf, which is a popular attraction in Karon for families and people of all ages.

If you stay in southern Karon Beach, you can probably walk to the neighboring Kata for 5-10 minutes. Kata is known for its lively night markets and a nice long beach for swimming, snorkeling, and surfing.

Whether you choose to stay North and South Karon Beach, you will still have the same distance to Karon Beach and all major amenities. Karon Beach has white sand and all facilities such as bedchairs and umbrellas all along its length. You can enjoy swimming, sunbathing, walking, jet skiing, or parasailing.

If you want to stay in the more central area of Karon, I recommend staying somewhere near the Karon Circle. If you want to be close to the more bars and shops in Kata, staying somewhere in the southern Karon area is a good choice.

The northern Karon is home to many 5-star resorts such as Centara Grand, Paradox, Mandarava, and Phuket Emerald. South Karon is home to the popular Pullman, Thavorn Palm Beach, and Avista Grande Resort. There are also plenty of budget and mid-range hostels and guest houses around Karon.

The Smart Bus has several stops along Karon Beach Road at Karon Circle, Woraburi Karon, and Karon Stadium. This is convenient if you take the bus from Phuket International Airport to your hotel in Karon.

Where to stay in Karon in the Northern Beach area:

Paradox Resort Phuket

This is a 5-star resort located on Karon Beach Road, in a central area of Karon near the Karon Circle. It is just steps away from the beach and from all tourist amenities like restaurants, bars, and shops. If you want to stay in a big resort, within easy walk to the beach and close to everything, this is a good choice.

The resort has a well-maintained ground with lots of palm trees, multiple outdoor swimming pools, a fitness center, onsite restaurants/bars, and breakfast with a wide range of dishes.

Centara Grand Beach Resort Phuket

If you want to stay right on the beach in a luxury 5-star hotel, Centara Grand is a great base for you. It is close to both the central area of Karon and Patong, which is convenient to enjoy the beaches and nightlife in the two towns. Good for families and couples who want to relax, away from the crowds.

The resort has a nice outdoor swimming pool overlooking the beach and kid-friendly sections. Rooms are spacious and comfortable.

Baan Karonburi Resort

This is a good mid-range hotel located on the Beach Road, close to everything. You will be within an easy walking distance to the beach and all the restaurants and shops. The resort has a large swimming pool area, a gym, and a tour desk. You can book a room with pool access for the best experience.

Where to stay in Karon in the Southern Beach area:

Pullman Phuket Karon Beach Resort

Pullman is one of the top end resorts along Karon Beach Road. It is just a stone throw away from the beach and all restaurants, massage places, convenient stores, and shops. The resort has 5 swimming pools with lots of sunbeds and umbrellas.

Other facilities include 8 dining options, a gym, tennis courts, and kid-friendly amenities such as a water slide and a kids club. To make the most of your stay, choose a room that comes with breakfast.

Thavorn Palm Beach Resort Phuket

This is a large resort complex located in the middle area of Karon Beach Road. It has 4 swimming pools, a fitness center, well-maintained landscape grounds, and comfortable rooms. The Amazing Garden is a great place to relax and play with kids. You can easily walk to the beach, shops, restaurants, and markets.

Beyond Karon

This is a 4-star mid-range hotel in Karon, and is one of the couple of accommodations in this area set right on the beach. It is also very close to Kata Night Market and Kata Beach. You can explore both Karon and Kata easily on foot if you are an active traveler.

It is at the southern end of the beach, which also offers a more private atmosphere, especially in the morning. They have all facilities for a comfortable stay like onsite pool, restaurants, delicious breakfast, and direct access to the beach.

Baan Sailom Hotel Phuket

This is a 3-star budget hotel located near Karon beach Road, which is a great location for easy access to the beach and all tourist facilities. It is quiet, so you can have a good night’s sleep. The hotel has good service and good size rooms. If you are on a budget and want to stay in the central area, this is a good choice.

2. Patak Road – inland area

You can find some good budget hostels and guest houses a bit further from the beach, in and around Patak Road. This road is one of the two main roads in Karon, along with the Beach Road. Patak is located between the Beach Road and the hillside. It is around 600m from the beach.

Karon Temple and Karon Night Market are one of the local attractions in this area. You will still be within easy distance from the beach and all other tourist amenities.

There are several accommodations in this area near the hillside that offer stunning views of the beach and town. However, one downside is the presence of many stairs, which may be challenging for those with mobility issues.

Where to stay in Karon in Patak Road & inland area:

Mandarava Resort and Spa

This 5-star luxury resort is located on the hillside area of Karon, 500m from the beach. It is not right on the beach but offers a peaceful atmosphere for a relaxing holiday. The resort offers free shuttle service to Karon Beach, which is a bonus for those who don’t want to walk.

They have multiple swimming pools with sunloungers and stunning views of the sea. It is surrounded by greenery and lush ground, which is great for relaxing. They have lovely breakfast nuggets with lots of dishes.

Take a note that the resort is on a hill, so there will be stairs involved to get to the rooms. This might not be convenient for those with mobile problems.

Mitsu Guesthouse

This is a family-run guest house located on Patak Road, around 600m from the beach. There is a 7-Eleven next to the hotel and several restaurants and bars within walking distance away. The hotel has a good sized room, and is a good option for budget travelers who want private rooms.

My personal experience staying in Karon

KPOP Hostel

I stayed a night at this hostel in the central area of Karon. It is just a 5-10 minutes walk from the beach and Karon Circle. The smart bus from the airport stops here, which is convenient for those taking the bus to the hotel.

I got to the hostel by a rented scooter from Phuket Old town and they have parking in front of the hostel. The owner was very friendly and helpful. They also offer reasonable tours around the island and island hopping tours to Koh Phi Phi or James Bond island.

I stayed in the mixed 4 bed dorm rooms with a private bath room inside the room. The room was clean with a fan, an air conditioning, and a window. There is lots of natural light in the room. Other amenities include a safety box and a small storage, where you can keep important belongings.

The bed has thick curtains, a reading light, and a power socket. There is a cafe, washing machine, and common sitting on the ground floor. It was overall a good safe place to stay in Karon for a budget solo traveler like me.